I am starting a thread journaling the experiences of a newbie to WitP AE vs. an experinced WitP player but new to the AE system. I will use Combat Reporter and WitPStaff as my reference points.

The game starts Dec 8th, 60 day variation of reinforcements, and Historical options.

The only agreement we have made was derived from the ol' WitP IJN sub behavior and that the Japanese subs will be computer controlled. The IJN commander has been very surprised by the agressiveness. Otherwise PP pretty much restricts the Allied player and both of us are not into finding exploits in game mechanics.

I have embeded the macro view of the world as of January 12th, 1942. The Japanese have been delayed in Malay due to some very lucky sub attacks using the Dutch Subs. Otherwise, my boneheaded moves have greatly helped the IJ cause. One game turn 4 for example, I tried to recover the Marine fighters on Wake Island and got the Lex within 6 hexes but .. I needed to patrol and linger .. next turn I am 7 hexes away returning to PH! I figure this out when BAM! The lady Lex takes to slugs from a IJN sub and that plan is defunct ..

One interesting move was that my opponet struck Midway with raids starting day 5 and crippled the Island. Again, a lack of understganding of Amphib into a level 2 port vs. Transport hung my forces there .. I figured that out and a month later Midway is back in action [sm=00000002.gif]

There was an exchange where the DD's from Hong Kong escaping met up with a convoy headed toward DEI .. and the Dutch and American subs had been effective early but now the die rolls are going the other way.. Otherwise I recovered force Z and the PoW/Repulse back to Sydney. The Manilla DD's and HK DD's are right now in Perth getting ready to escort AP's back and forth to Columbo.

The Lady Lex was moved to Seattle for Repairs from her IJN plan of venting ocean water into her hull (200 ton dock limit), and the Nevada has been moved to Los Angles for repairs (110 days left) from the Dec 7th experience. The West Virgina and California are still alive but will spend the war at PH. The Penn and the Tenn will be ready in 57 days.

The month was spent leanring the logistics system and setting up supply. I have auto-convoys set up in SF & Colombo. I intially established ~100KT of shipping from CT-Colombo that takes about 20 days to complete and 40KT shipping from UK - CT and an additional 20KT from East Coast to CT. I think the roundtrips will move about 40 - 50 KT to Columbo per month at this point. I guess as the number of boats goes up so to will the shipping. 20KT is moving right now CT to Perth and 20KT from Cristobol to Sydney. This is in addiion to 30KT that moved from Colombo to Perth. I tried to empty the DEI into Darwin and moved 40K fuel units and 20KT of supplies. However, the IJN is floating SCTF that have more than threaten shipping from Palenburg. My subs have taken torp shots hitting but ..duds vs. his BB's. An LCAP intercepted a Naval attack from Bativa with my forces also missing getting any hits. The noose is closing.

I have made a bunch of boneheaded moves thus far, which I will not remiss ... For example, I did not pay PP's and move forces into PM. Moving forward: Overall Plan is DEI focused with the thought of teh IJ taking PM, Java, Sumantra. The Allies will reverse the course from 1943 to 1945. A Central Pacific thrust will be aimed at capturing Siapan. If the DEI becomes over-reinforces the Central Pac will be the main thrust and target Formosa.

DEI PLAN: The Plan now is to stage LBU's into Luganville and then stage a forward Airpatrol. I have staged forces into Pango Pango & Suva to make this move. The American Carriers (Wasp & Saratoga) are moving to @ join the Enterprise PH. The Lady Lex that has 57 days left to her repairs @ Seattle from taking 2 torps. I suppose the upgrade will add a few more days to her stay. The plan is to have 2 2 CV TF's ready to operate near Luganville in coincding with LR Patrol forces by April/May 42. 8 AP's and 12 xAK's have been staged at Brisbine to move 4 AUS units belonging to I AUS to Luganville.

4 P40 sqns. surviving Manilla made it to Darwin and now our staged at PM. That means right now I have 15 working aircraft with 60 exp vs. what has been 6 Zeros and 20Nells pounding the port/airfield. We shall see how this goes.

CENPAC: Amphib an additional BF to Midway to repair / build up the airfield. This will be the base for patrols toward Wake is. A CV based airraid on Wake Is. is planned for Feb. 15th for the purpose of disrupting patrol and base forces building there. Submarine forces will continue to scout and interfere with IJ shipping to Truk, Rabul, and Manaco .. along with sub forces interdicting shipping out of Japan [about 1 out of 10 torps hit and a xAP sunk is as good as gold].

OK .. I will post the details moving forward.

One thing I ask in this thread. Constructive ideas are very much welcome but refrain from being a troll please ..

I will post a much more detailed picture of events moving forward and how teh strategy is unfolding but today I thought I would proclaim a smaill victory

For Jan 12, 1942 ...The IJN is executing air attacks in Singapore and Bativa at will also in Burma and China but ... P-40's squdrons flown to PM from Manilla in a most cock'eyed route through the DEI on to Darwin, and now just stationed at PM to just intercepting an IJ raid ...

To get the thread going properly in the middle of the movie so to speak .. below shows the score to this point. The IJ took heavy bomber hit early on December 8th using the ol' WitP tatics and the fighters at 15K and the bombers at 13K in T-storms produced seperated waves .. the bombers arriving unescorted .. and the P-40's making their day miserable. These same pilots and planes defended PM today ...

I have postponed the battle of Slim River for a full month, but even supporting the flanks of the Indian divisions .. the Japanese have turned the flank from the orginal blue line to the current position. Two brigades are at the red line on teh far south awaiting the onslaught, and the armour is on the clear hex and the far left flank. I suspect I will postpone things for another month but Singapore will fall ..

1. How did you get the Manila Warhawk units to Port Moresby? They are attacherd to a restricted command and cannot be reattached.

2. Be very wary of using Australian units forward so early. The AIF units are very powerful but the militia units are quite weak whilst they are composed of CMF militia squads. Plus check on how the upgrades for infantry work. You get a great benefit of if you can upgrade on a 1:1 squad basis.

3. Covering your land flanks in AE is not as indispensable as you believe it to be. In Malaya you should be consolidating into road blocks rather than spreading out to hold an extended line. Read up on the comments regarding "Reserve" mode as it pertains to "Pursuit" on page 185 of the manual. You force disposition is aiding the enemy to get pursuit benefits. of course if your opponent is not aware of the game mechanics...[:)]

4. Don't worry so much about Port Moresby. In the first few months no place which is dependent on SLOCs for reinforcements and incapable of generating sufficient supply locally can be held a determined Japanese push. You can make it very costly for the enemy, both in terms of lost materiel and time, to capture such a base but ultimately you cannot hold it, unless the opponent makes serious errors or is only half hearted in the attempt.

5. No mention made of your pilot training program. That is a critical area that must not be overlooked.

6. Allied pilots shot down over Allied lines stand a much better chance of surviving than if shot over enemy lines. When you launch your carrier raid against Wake Island next month (an operation I personally have reservations about) try to position a sub in the Wake Island hex to recover pilots shot down.

7. In 1942 carrier air operations can suffer disruption penalties if more than 100 aircraft in the TF. Thus operating 2 CVs in a TF (you intend a total of 4 CVs in 2 TFs) is dangerous. Much safer, but nothing is ever guaranteed, to operate only 1 CV per TF throughout 1942. The enemy has higher tolerance limits.

8. Pay careful attention to the withdrawal dates of land units. Unlike air units and ships which the player must manually withdraw, land units just automatically disappear without any player input. Can be very frustrating to pay PPs to get a unit forward only to discover that a week after landing it simply goes "poof".

That is enough for now. Reading the AARs is a very good way of learning how to avoid making mistakes. Just remember that in the AARs there is quite a gulf in ability both in the players and the quality of advice prooffered. Loud or persistent voices do not necessarily equate to quality.

1. How did you get the Manila Warhawk units to Port Moresby? They are attacherd to a restricted command and cannot be reattached.

2. Be very wary of using Australian units forward so early. The AIF units are very powerful but the militia units are quite weak whilst they are composed of CMF militia squads. Plus check on how the upgrades for infantry work. You get a great benefit of if you can upgrade on a 1:1 squad basis.

3. Covering your land flanks in AE is not as indispensable as you believe it to be. In Malaya you should be consolidating into road blocks rather than spreading out to hold an extended line. Read up on the comments regarding "Reserve" mode as it pertains to "Pursuit" on page 185 of the manual. You force disposition is aiding the enemy to get pursuit benefits. of course if your opponent is not aware of the game mechanics...[:)]

4. Don't worry so much about Port Moresby. In the first few months no place which is dependent on SLOCs for reinforcements and incapable of generating sufficient supply locally can be held a determined Japanese push. You can make it very costly for the enemy, both in terms of lost materiel and time, to capture such a base but ultimately you cannot hold it, unless the opponent makes serious errors or is only half hearted in the attempt.

5. No mention made of your pilot training program. That is a critical area that must not be overlooked.

6. Allied pilots shot down over Allied lines stand a much better chance of surviving than if shot over enemy lines. When you launch your carrier raid against Wake Island next month (an operation I personally have reservations about) try to position a sub in the Wake Island hex to recover pilots shot down.

7. In 1942 carrier air operations can suffer disruption penalties if more than 100 aircraft in the TF. Thus operating 2 CVs in a TF (you intend a total of 4 CVs in 2 TFs) is dangerous. Much safer, but nothing is ever guaranteed, to operate only 1 CV per TF throughout 1942. The enemy has higher tolerance limits.

8. Pay careful attention to the withdrawal dates of land units. Unlike air units and ships which the player must manually withdraw, land units just automatically disappear without any player input. Can be very frustrating to pay PPs to get a unit forward only to discover that a week after landing it simply goes "poof".

That is enough for now. Reading the AARs is a very good way of learning how to avoid making mistakes. Just remember that in the AARs there is quite a gulf in ability both in the players and the quality of advice prooffered. Loud or persistent voices do not necessarily equate to quality.

Alfred

GREAT FEEDBACK TY!

1. To understand the problem .. these P-40's got experience and success quickly due to the game mechanics of how escorts and bombers need to be at an exact altitude and the bombers comming in unescorted. Four groups obtained multiple aces. It seemed a waste to let these boys die .. so I paid the PP's and flew them out to fight battles where it might have an impact rather than stave off the inevetable. As it is these squadrons have been exteremly effective at flying to points where the IJ is making long range raids and meeting those advances with success.

2. Granted I paid PP's and sent militia into PM. I see this is a mistake. So if the militia is at PM they do not get upgraded?

3. Ok .. In fact to back your statement I have come to discover that forces in the Jungle off the roads are quickly flanked, surrounded, and destroyed. I need to read and understand how he game uses reserve. This will also come in handy in the final moments of Manilla.

[4 relates to 2 so we shall not digress :)]

5. Ok Pilot Training will be my next post.

6. I did not think about Pilot rescue but I plan to have 10 subs around the area looking for the KB if by chance they arrive. I would guess a side effect is that some pilots will be rescued as a result. A big plus clearly.

7. Good advice. I am quite influenced by the effectiveness of IJN submarines and still have a lack in numbers and effectiveness of ASW. Maybe instead of flying off the decks of 4 carrriers I will reduce the mission within better economies of scale. I still want to do this mission for a number of reasons.

OK ... off to my other occupation :)

Crackaces -> Pilot Training (7/31/2011 2:31:54 PM)

Enclosed below is the status of my pilot training pool. One thing I did was to transfer one ace each into training groups on the East Coast. This helped boost their experince qucikly.

The months of December and begining of Jan my PBY's at PH and LA have been vigeriously ASW Bombs @ 100'. IMHO) This has been extermly helpful in avoiding subs, which wreeked havoc in December. Now as my DD's are gaining some effectiveness they are back to Naval Search 2000' Torps ..

The enclosure below shows the 3 current aces back deployed with their units. I moved them back after the training groups reached 50. In all I feel teh air campaign has gone quite well and we should have a good cadre of pilots to begin our offensive in 1943.

I have found the KB ....or should I say the KB has shown up raiding Darwin and sinking merchant ships at port and some support ships. The DD Encouter just repaired damage and was heading to Sydney when bam! The area the KB is operating has 7 subs .. and few possibilites ... there is always the opporunity for a lucky sub hit .. The Allies continue with the current strategy .. and has moved forces from the West Coast to PH for further deployment.

One of the tools out here in the forum is the WitP combat reporter. This has been ivery helpful for me to recall previous attacks and trends along with showing these on a map. Below illistrates a previous reproted attack on Bativia and since I do not do the game in a continous session I looked at this before moving fighter support in for the next turn. At least I know my 20 fighters might have a chance at 15K feet against the 11 Zeros and 4 Nells :)

One other use is those Radio transmissions out in the middle of nowhere .. a quick click and I found a sub lurking in the middle of the Indian Ocean I might want to avoid ...

Below shows a Radio Transmission out in the middle of nowhere [actually right off Johnson Island but 171,144 means nothing to me] that is actually very significant for me, and I am able to visualize the threat by simply clicking on the report. I have two convoys returning from Pango Pango that I need to be aware of this threat and avoid at all costs. These are the details and decisions that this game tests on an everyday basis.

The picture below shows one strategy for dealing with IJN submarines although I am not so sure the crews appreciate it :) . Here I have noted the patrol zone of a sub highlighted in the black oval. I have three ASW patrols consiting of YP's moving in and out of the patrol zone lingering for a day or two and then back out of that zone because a second or even third sub? is also in this area. The YP's have experince of 30's/20's day and night, and I do not expect them at all to hit anything. But .... this sub has fired salvos of 4,2, & 2 making it 10 torps fired total over the past week, and only one YP has met their fate. I understand these subs have a maximum of 10 torpedoes loaded total? If my understanding is correct, I can get these submarines to expend their ammo into the open ocean rather than my xAP's and xAK's ....[8D]

I will continue to monitor my results. I will continue to keep these low effective ASW patrols until my DD's get more experience and hardware to perfrom better escorts. Then I feel that the risk of tonnage vs. results will be better handled by my DD's. But for now... the YP's as target practice is more effective ...[:'(]

The picture below shows a 4 CV KB who has just raided Darwin and is right now continuing its South-SouthEast Path. Of note were the subs in the area that failed to react to the KB sailing over the top of them [X(]

Ok I am at the mercy of the IJN at this point they have done their worse at Darwin sinking 25 ships. In a new post I will track my repsonse, which is a 1CVTF raid on Wake Is. He has some patrol craft there and plans to use it as an early warning picket to my movements. It will take 7 days to organize and position. In the meantime I will sail Subs in the Wake Island area and note the activity.

I noticed you have laid a minefield in open water two hexes from Darwin.

Generally speaking it is not a good idea to mine open water, particularly when it is easy to side step the minefield. You get too few mines monthly to allow for such extravagance.

Defensive minefields are best laid in your own ports with an anchored ACM to reduce/totally remove, the decay rate of the minefield.

Alfred

Crackaces -> RE: The [Partial] KB found! (8/2/2011 1:22:38 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alfred

I noticed you have laid a minefield in open water two hexes from Darwin.

Generally speaking it is not a good idea to mine open water, particularly when it is easy to side step the minefield. You get too few mines monthly to allow for such extravagance.

Defensive minefields are best laid in your own ports with an anchored ACM to reduce/totally remove, the decay rate of the minefield.

Alfred

Thanks Alfred .. . this thread might be just me and you :) at least I will learn something from the experince. I had a pesky sub right in front of the and desperately laid 25 mines.... as you have stated an act of futility. As were the mines laid where the IJN KB just plowed through. One question is what about on coastal hexes? and .. How many mines are required to get an effect?

PaxMondo -> RE: The [Partial] KB found! (8/2/2011 2:58:14 PM)

From what I've seen, it takes about 100 mines to have a reasonable chance for a ship to hit one. The area in each hex is still pretty large ...

House Stark -> RE: The [Partial] KB found! (8/2/2011 5:33:06 PM)

As someone who eventually wants to attempt a PBEM, I'm following all these first-time AARs with interest. Good luck[:)]

Crackaces -> Sub mining at Darwin (8/2/2011 6:31:49 PM)

Just supporting Alfread's observations ....In the picture below it shows that the sub eventually penatrated into the port area and just mining the port would have eventually caused some die roll for a mine hit. The irony is by the time that happened the IJN KB has already sunk every ship in Darwin [:'(]

Ok There is a lot going on and in the next post I will highlight some of the fronts but for now ..

In general we are trading merchant ships with sub warfare. Today is a typical encouter ..what was nice is that in the combat report .. "fuel on fire" . she is going to burn into Davy Jones's locker [;)]

Submarine attack near Hengchun at 83,68

Japanese Ships xAK Nissen Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships SS Pike

The USN Keeps the pressure on the subs trying to sink tankers out of LA:

NorPac: The 1/151 Eng are still at Seattle with attempt #2 to load for Kodiak. Our first adventure was met with a torpedo attack shortly leaving the estuary for open water. In a previous post I escorted the transport force with 4 DD's and 4 PG's but they did not react. These escorts are more experinced and upgraded.

CenPac: The Big 'E' Escorted by 12 DD's and 4 CL's with 2 CA's are moving toward Midway and into postion to raid Wake Island.There are patrol craft and the IJ is bilding the base there as a picket line. My thought is to make this more difficult while figuring out how to pull a carrier raid off .. Right now 6 subs are patroling around the coasts of Wake Island.

SouthPac: Suva and Pango Pango have both been fueled up to 10K and 4K of supplies. Engineers are busy expanding facilites. 4 PBY's are in route with aviation support and more Marines.

DEI: My luck has been very good. The ocmbination of shore batteries and sub have taken their tool severly damaging xAK's dropping off troops and supplies.

Maylay: The IJ forces still have yet to cross into Slim River .. Delaying the inevetable at least another month. Its Mid-January and historically Slim River fell mid December. The IJN has focused Amphib operations in DEI and has not attempted to cut off Singapore from retreating forces.

The below map shows the error in my ways. Not enough reserve and IJ pursuit penatrating the line and driving deep isolating forces.

However, there is some good news in that it is January 18th 1942, and I suspect Slim river will not be pentrated until the 20th. There is bad news that Singapore has only 7K in supplies and will not give much of a fight when the IJA arrives. However, everyday I postpone the surender of Singapore is precious time the IJ is busy not using those forces in Burma or elsewhere. The jungle terrain completely turns the battle of trading men and supplies for time .. it takes too long to retreat into better postions agasint the faster IJA forces.

It's late January and as the post above points out Singapore as yet to fall. Although all the forces north of Kuala Lumpur are disorganzied and will surrender at first contact -- I suspect I can hold Malay and Singapore until Feb 1st 1942. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure for the IJN to move even more agressvely and faster under severe supply constraints. Though the KB's can do what they will right now -- The IJ player understands that they have little time and lots to get secured. Things maybe even worse and he does not know it ...yet ..

If you remember, we have the 60 day variation option in place and I am getting some platforms rather early in the war. I am operating 3 CV's right now raiding Wake Is. and doing operations such as positioning support in Suva to secure Nidnei and Luganville with Marines and PA. The US will be able to bring to bare 5 CV's in March 1942. I suspect I will be able to put pressure on his plans way before history. I do not think I need to enage as much as a show of force right now to get the KB reacting to me rather than me react to the IJ moves.

For today:

I am using a operational method of moving in air assests to bases where the IJ threatens but has not yet brought adequite air resoruces to bear. This has a big disadvantage in that I have noted that the game constently damages aircraft and that leaves little bread crumbs as air assets move. But .. I think it is better than having aircraft on the ground to be pounded by 4BB's, 2CA's and 2CL's .. Yesterday was a small victory in this strategy .. using a line from another brillantly written thread .. the little wildebeasts that could ...[8D]

So one big cruiser with the paint scratched, and a little crusier that will need some time on the blocks so to speak ...The assets damaged are not as important as the physiological effect of some small insignificant airplane doing damage .. if that was the two of the AK's in the group instead of teh CA/CL ...this would have been much more a disaster. I suspect more airpower will be committed to invasion from this point on .. and if it is the KB .. this will provide plenty of opporunities elsewhere for some mischief [:D]

CT/Colombo/India: I have begun to move the 10 knt coastal cargo ships to Bombay. There are lots more supplies right now in Bombay than anywhere else in the Indian Occean. I need to mvoe this to Colombo and keep the auto convoys going. Just to say this wold have been smarter I think than moving so many cargo assests to UK/East Coast to get 400K of supplies to CT and eventually to Colombo. We shall see .. I expect in 30 days I will have moved these distant supplies into threater. The remnants of the Indian Corps as been centralized at Calcutta and some "free" (units not required for garrisons) have also been moved. The 3 RAF units and RAF engineers have been positioned at Calcutta. I can decide know how to repostion forces.

Land of Oz: As above ...Darwin was destroyed by the KB. Townsveille and Brisbine are being built up as forward bases to support PM. The final parts of the 1 AUS are being moved from Aden. The DD assests are being moved from perth to Sydney where subs are extermly agressive. On the way .. the Brits smashed a sub lurking off Melborne.

SoPac: The USN continues to build Suva and Pango Pango with support, supplies and fuel. The level 3/2 ports respectively are not going to cut it yet for any major operations. But the time to start the constrcution is now ..

NoPac: Engineers and aviation support are headed to Kodiak. This would be trip #2 and yes I got intercepted by subs .. but this escort group has a good commander and some experince .. they react first no torp attack!

CenPac: The Big E is 240 miles north northeast of Wake Is and sending recon forces over Wake. I plan a quick raid of the airfield . do little damage but use some of his supplies having to reapair and then rejoin the Saratoga operating in the SoPac area.

"That is all for now ..."

Crackaces -> Watch the weather! (8/5/2011 10:45:54 PM)

Jan 21 1942

The Big E hung out in "severe storms" and "Exterme Overcast" for three days in attack position 240 miles due East of Wake Island -- aircraft launched all missons cancelled ...Ok .. But the IJN launch medium bombers from Wake that have recon the TF 3 times in 3 days ...[:@] The IJN knows of my raid and the location of teh Big E .. time to skedaddle out of range. The lesson learned here is to make sure and look at the weather reports being sent by the subs! Next time I will wait for the clear air out of range of the IJN patrol craft ..

We also learned today that no AS -- no fuel for subs ...at least Townsville can fuel a cargo ship but no subs .. I will have to send an AS to pango Pango Soon to collect up the US S class subs soon to be stranded in Central Java . I am moving my short ranage subs to that point.

DEI: The KB has hit Palenbang and Bativia cleaning house .... One thing I know where the IJN KB is ... and where it is not [;)] The IJN has started to move subs into the open waters of the Indian Ocean about 500 miles south southwest of Palanbang. 2 TK's sunk by S-115 ...

Singapore: The IJ forces continue southward almost unopposed. I still think I can hold out 2 more weeks against this onslaught. That will mean that it will be mid-Febuary before the IJ will have control of the supplies.

NoPac: The engineers have off loaded at Kodiak Yea!

CenPac: The Big E and Saratoga are sailing toward a merge .. when better weather hits -- the both of them are going to hit Wake Island and run .. Although I want to have 3 carriers sailing in the Suva area by March 1942.

SoPAC: PA are in place at Suva and Pango Pango I can see just south of Nidei Is. I need aviation support at Noumea to put PA's there. A marine engeer deatchment is headed to Pango Pango. Things are sort of slower going because of the need to escort everything into this area. The submarines are very agressive but .. our ASW is reacting first and blocking the torp attack. The goal is to set up 3 PBY squadrons of 2 units that can look into the Coral Sea. With this we will also move some B-26 and P-40 squadrons in to intercept SCTF's in the area. Once this occurs we can move our CVTF's in to provide support of a prospective invasion of PM. Slowly but surely the infrastrcutre gets put into place. The supplies, the fuel, the assests ...

One note the IJ has divided thier forces right now into three main KB TF's. I suspect that once Singapore falls one of these TF's will raid the Indian Ocean this would be the oppournity to take on a fragmented KB and think about an exchange ..although it will be 1943 before we get our next batch of CV's. :/

Crackaces -> Allied Supply (8/6/2011 2:57:45 PM)

Unlike the IJ player, the Allies have plenty of supply. The problem is having the resources to move so much and in a very hostile environment. I have enclosed a screen print of the current Allied supply situation. As you see there are plenty of stockpiles. However, right now submarine warfare is extremely effective. The submarines are hanging off the coast of these supply depots and moving any supply requires at least 2 ASW forces for each convoy to at least get out of port. In the LA/SD Basin Channel Islands there are 4 submarines operating. There are 3 off of SF. Two subs off Portland and 3 -4 submarines off of the Seattle Vancover area. Further, to move anything around any of the US Pacific Islands requires at least 4 experineced DD's or the convoy will be lost to Submarines going into or out of port. For example, I have 4 submarines around PH. Of late, Submarines are now just starting to haunt the Indian Ocean.

As you remember my opponet desired to use computer controlled submarines and in this version of WitP AE, the computer controlled IJN submaines are focusing on Merchant traffic not Military traffic. Although, submarines are mining Suva and Midway frequently. Thus submarines not the KB have my main attention.

I did make a mistake in terms of optimum play. I tried to move FUEL from Soerabaja (and the IJN player committed SCTF's and the KB to stop this). The optimum play IMHO was to move OIL to the land of OZ. The 9X factor of fuel production and 1X supply was a much better proposition given that time was the major constraint and certain loss of refineries in the DEI. I also see I needed to move OIL from Abadan to refineries in the Land of OZ at Melbourne.

One advantage of playing the Allies thus far is that I can make mistakes figuring out this puzzle because resources are so abundant. My focus is to get these resources into the areas I plan to conduct my offensives. This game is about logistics and the IJ player is at a distict disadvantage that beomes worse as time marches on.

India: I am thinking about trying to defend India from a line extending north of Chittagong. I am not sure if this is possible or not. I have moved the 53rd Bde and avitaion reousrces toward Chittagong arriving in 10 days. I realize that sailing would be faster but I have noted submaines now patroling the area.

DEI: Amphib forces are now 200 miles from Bativia and Soerabaja. I count 4 IJN SCTF's, one 4 CV KB, and 5 Amphib TF's ready to invade. All air forces are concentrated in Soerabaja. The funny thing about the air war is that the Wilebeasts have scored 3 ships 1 CA dmaged, 1CL severely damaged. and a xAK still on fire 2 days later whose smoke obscured further attacks!

SoPac: The forces for further deployment have been offlaoded at PH and are getting ready to be onloaded for Amphib to Suva and Pango Pango. (Remember Suva is a 3 level and PP a 2 level port big ships cannot dock!). I have PBY's at Suva, & PP giving me eyes into the area.

CenPac: The BigE and Saratoga are waiting 480 miles East of Wake Islands. One lesson for launching air raids against fixed targets. Have assests at the Launch point and the Target that monitor weather. I started my turn in clear the launch point was "severe storms" and the target was "exterme overcast". However, it should be noted that the IJ patrol craft had no problems taking off and finding my CVTF's ;). [A game glitch in my view, but I understand someone will find some anecdotal evidence in history when this occured :) ] Anyway knowing the weather before getting into range was a lesson learned.

One thing I strongly feel about the carriers at this point. The problem is not numbers in my mind as I will have 5 in theater wihtin 60 days. IN 3/42 teh Lexington class get Radar and and AA upgrades which I am thinking might be an edge for survivablity. I will wait for Apr to move CV assests into the Suva area using Aukland as the resupply base. This means stocking fuel and supplies at Aukland ahead of time.

The land of Oz: I am taking the Houston and American DD forces out of the Land of Oz and moving them toward PH. Here we will do the 3/42 upgrades and escort forces from PH to the Suva area.

I cannot emphasize enough the effectiveness of the IJN submarine warfare. With the exception of turns 1 -4, and two tankers off of Sumantra trying to escape .. my convoys have been escorted (unlike RL). The submarine in this game has been an exceptionally powerfull platform.

In 50 turns the IJN submarine force has sunk 64.8 KT of displacement. I sure hope the ASW upgrades sway things a bit. The Pacific Ocean is a vast area, but as previously posted the Computer/opponet continues to park subs right off major ports. The advantage it the ability to keep ASW resources close and just merge say 200 - 300 miles off port and escort in. The problem is still that subs are very effective even in this scenario.

On the other hand the dud-laced USN has sunk 10.3 KT of displacement. Including a fully loaded tanker off of Tokyo and 4 fully loaded xAK's off Soc Trang. The Dutch got a fully loaded xAP off Soc Trang and have added another 14.4 KT of tonnage to Davy Jones's locker. This is what delayed the fall of Singapore IMHO. This does not include xAK's damaged and returned to port full of stuff early in December.

One thing I am not sure about is the tonnage sunk in respective to the scale of the game. But these numbers I suspect will start moving my direction after 1943.

Crackaces -> Ship Classes & Types (8/7/2011 4:50:05 PM)

I was an Army guy not a Navy guy (I should have joined the Navy I know!) This turn was spent learning about different ship types. In particular, teh AV(x) absoutely required to support PA(s) in forward locations. One can park a supply ship off a level 2 port and the supplies off loaded cannot keep up with base operations and keep those PBY's flying. Thus I am sending AVD's to Suva, Nomuea, and Pango Pango.

The AKV's are very valuable ships. Especally if you are going to transport aircraft and expect them to go right into service. Regular air transport using cargo causes at least a day of maintinance .. sometimes more .. and flying aircraft from base to base leads operational loses.

The other little lesson taught to me by WitPTracker is that not only supply needs to move but resources and oil as well. I see a problem in the GA release where internal industry locations run short of oil/resources/fuel. Salt Lake City is short of resources... The good news is that LA and SF have 1M each of supplies if I can just move them without getting sunk ...

I moved the 55th Ind Brgde to and aviation support to Calcatta. I will have a division there to draw the line of death :)

Not much to post because the day to day routine is about the same. The KB raids Java, and more invasion ships move into place... the dutch subs are missing great opportunites to kill xAK's .. I will post again once I get things back in order after learning some new things about the game...

Crackaces -> Turn 53 Summary (8/8/2011 6:22:18 PM)

As I am considering the Wake Is. Raid, IJN Amphib forces rolled over a USN sub on the way to Ocean Island. I detect but react away. [Yet another sub commander to fire when he gets back to PH!]. At the same time the weather cleared and I still had my raid parameters set. Had the KB been in range this would have been a disaster! Every turn things have to be adjusted. CAP, Targets, Pilot Fatigue etc. The game rewards the details and penalizes lapses ..As it is Wake Island is bombed and reduced to 50% effectiveness. More so, it will take supply and engineers to fix it .. if that is in his plan.

The big things is as a newbie is that the sweeps worked as planned and escorts joined the DB's as planned. To this point I played a couple of turns against the AI and 50+ turns agasint my opponet, but I needed much more experince in real play in executing a coordinated mission. Submarines in place to observe weather and possible enemy forces, patrol craft in place to monitor the egression from the target, and many other things but most importantly playing with a big raid cordinating altitudes and multiple missions. The combat replay went as planned. [8D]

The IJN invaded Ocean Is. even knowing my CV's were a mere 3 days away. [That spooky,"Main Force Detected!" in the combat replay still sends chills down my spine!] I look at the detection level of the Big E TF and its 5/5 .... Since he continued the invasion with my CV's within reasonable strategic intervention range suggests to me that he has the force to meet me if I take the bait. I will let this invasion go. The CV's will continue back to PH, refit some sea going damage, and then begin the strategic move toward Auckland. Unbeknowst to my opponet that thinks the Lady Lex was sunk by Sub I-5 .. she and the Hornet will join the Big E and Saratoga TF's @ Auckland. I will be ready in March '42 to play cat & mouse with 5 CVTF's. Supplies and Fuel are still being moved into place plus the AO TF's.

I am not looking for a "Coral Sea" yet, but I want to have the forces ready if he gets invasion forces into Nomuea or Pango Pango w/o KB support and take a shot. The subs and PA are in place now for such a maneuver, and more support is heading that way.

I have posted a summary from WitpTracker for the first 50 turns. We have sunk 9 full AK's of various types heading for invasion sites; however, I am quite concerend that 10% of the current tanker force has been sunk by IJN submarines. Only 3 were unescorted. The good news is that my ASW is getting better and more tankers are on the way. It does indicate how effective the IJN sub warefare can be against merchants. All the main ports have 2 - 4 submarines patroling and now I am seeing submarines patroling the straits off Horn Is. and off Townsville and submarines in the Indian Ocean well off Sumantra.

Ahhhhhh!!! Thanks! I thought I read in the doc but ... experience is the best wisdom ...Ok over time the engineers will fix this mess. And your trepidation over doing the raid in the first place [:(]

At least I feel that I have somebody watching my back! [8D]

Things are going smarter Alfred .. I have just landed Marines on Nedei . the CB's are ready to follow on and Naval port detchment is 5 days away. I plan to move AA next and build an airfield over the next month. I think with the Naval support I can offload a Coastal Defense Gun?

DOCUP -> RE: Turn 53 Summary (8/9/2011 1:31:00 AM)

I think your right about naval support being able to offload a CD unit, but its still slow going. Make sure you build up other bases also. One base is easy to shut down. What about putting an AS in the area and use some of ur S boats in that area.

doc

Crackaces -> RE: Turn 53 Summary (8/9/2011 3:05:12 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DOCUP

I think your right about naval support being able to offload a CD unit, but its still slow going. Make sure you build up other bases also. One base is easy to shut down. What about putting an AS in the area and use some of ur S boats in that area.

doc

Excellent Idea! I am thinking of moving the AS currently at San Diego into the area. It will take 20 days to get there but I like this idea! Once I get the stuff in place I think Luganville will be the next base in the area. One thing I have lost the Manilla, Dutch, and Aussie AS ships .. the KB specifically went looking for them with the idea of limiting my options for awhile :(

Its "Diem Bein Phu" [It would be Stalingrad but its just not theat cold in the Phillipines :) ] at Clark Field and Manilla for sure,,, but we had a little victory that will be in the annuals of history ..about 5% of the IJ force at Clark Field lost in one day:

But only 2K supplies are left and the men are starving. The IJ has a decision. Keep the siege going passively and see how many days go by or continue the assult. Each day that goes by the troops are tied up and I continue to build the Suva/Pango Pango area to unleash hell in 6 months. Singapore as yet to fall . I suspect mid Feb '42. She has only 2K supplies also :/ But I feel good that a lot of IJ resoures [beans, bullets, and butts] are tied up in these two locations.

I am not the experinced players others in this forum are .. so I laid the India/Darwin/Nedei line and continued with that strategy. With my current experince I would have defended Sumantra. The key was really understanding the Refinforcement schedule and resoruces. With the 60 day variation and some planning some forces came early but I did not know at the time the significance. However, I am sticking with my Strategic original plan and not letting events start me pushing one direction and than divert to another plan. Now an operational opportunity might arise where forces might be deployed not according to plan to take advantage of a situation but overall the original planned " line of death" is what I will implement.

There is one other thought. Many IJN players see thier early advantage and IMHO make the same mistake as Napolean, Hitler, and so many others that had superior military advantages. They kept conquering until supply lines became unmanageable. Unlike many other games which supply is abstracted, this game punishes this strategy. My opponent understands this concept and the concept of economy of force to achieve strategic objectives very very well. It will be a tough fight in 1943.

I just wanted to post a 2 month report on the progress of the air war. I just started using tracker but it does show that the IJ has taken 2 -1 losses. The first week I got the bombers, and in particular the Nell's very hard. The operational losses are building also. The past week I have been very passive in defending just letting the IJ have their way. After all the planes were shot down over PM [but my aces lived] .. I put them into the pool and now they are training my future P-40 pilots [8D].

But Mid Febuary I will have 4 Hurrcane Sqds in Chittigong with RAF base support. I suspect this will be quite a surprise and these forces should take me through May 42. The plan is to make the IJ choose direction and put pressure on the "line of death" where he is not for now ...Burma is the weak point point to have an air battle and delaying him further ..

The Ocean Island invasion rolled right over the top of the Narwhal and the Commander reacted away from the invasion force ..I continued the patrol in the area and sure enough the Narwhal had a live torp loaded and made it count! The Commander ... LCDR Wilkins 62/60 [Leadership/Inspiration]